A diuretic is any substance that can increase the production of urine in the body. Therefore, if you’re thinking that the green tea you’re drinking is responsible for your frequent peeing, you’re not mistaken at all.
Diuretics function by ridding the body of salt, in particular, sodium chloride. Since salt is hydrophilic, it follows that it would draw some water along with it. In the end, salt and water are passed out as urine.
While there are diuretic pills which are commonly referred to as water pills, some natural food and tea exhibit these properties.
However, it isn’t odd if you’re wondering if green tea is a diuretic. And, if it is, what is the safe way to drink it. You’ll find these answers and more as you read on.
What are diuretics used for?
Diuretics are invaluable in treating several life-threatening conditions. The reduction of sodium in the body helps to reduce the quantity of water retention in your veins and arteries.
The result of this process is a decrease in blood pressure. Hence, they come in handy when treating people with high blood pressure.
Diseases such as oedema, congestive heart failure, nephritis, toxemia of pregnancy, and premenstrual tension, all have some form of diuretics in drugs prescribed to treat them.
In addition, loop diuretics prevent the reabsorption of sodium into the nephron. As a result, there is an increase in water passing out with urine.
Treatments that take place with this action include hyperkalemia, hypercalcemia, fluid accumulation, and acute renal failure.
However, other types of diuretics have some specialized applications. Overall, they are important to pharmaceuticals as they try to find cures to various diseases rampaging humanity.
Is green tea a diuretic?
Green tea is a natural diuretic. It stimulates the bladder to get rid of some fluids, thanks to the presence of caffeine.
Although there isn’t sufficient caffeine in a single cup to cause this, taking several cups will get you to pee frequently.
However, though you may find the periodic need to pee annoying, it is only the body trying to detoxify the system.
The presence of antioxidants in green tea helps to neutralize the activities of toxins in the liver. On the other hand, caffeine stimulates the liver to flush out the toxins through the urine.
For these reasons, people drink green tea to help them with detoxification which is the principal work of the liver. However, if you think frequent urination may hamper your activity, consider reducing the quantity of green tea that you’re taking.
Another way not to lose out on its benefits for fear of visiting the restroom frequently is by taking it early in the morning before your workout. You’ll lose much of the fluid in that process to sweating before commencing the day’s work.
Is green tea good as a diuretic?
Yes! Green tea is a good diuretic for several reasons. First, green tea is mostly water in volume. Due to this, you won’t get rapidly dehydrated like most drugs will cause you to in the long run.
However, the fact remains. The amount of fluid you take is most of the fluids you pass out during your frequent peeing. In essence, the lesser the volume of tea or liquid that you intake, the lesser you have to use the toilet.
Again, while some diuretic drugs have some nasty side effects such as dizziness, constipation, increased cholesterol, skin rash, and gout to mention a few, the odds of such are lower with drinking green tea.
Instead, it reduces cholesterol levels which is dangerous to the heart’s function and makes you feel sharp.
Moreover, as a natural diuretic, green tea has a less forceful effect on the kidney, therefore reducing the probability of having kidney-related problems.
Taking an example, a diuretic drug such as hydrochlorothiazide takes over 82 hours to be removed from the system, while the effect of green tea wears off in few hours. That means your routine peeing would only last a short while.
What side effects do diuretics have?
Diuretics are external influences to promote the normal action of the kidney to remove excess fluid from the body. They are not perfect in operation; hence some side effects often accompany their use.
Meanwhile, they act in diverse ways, earning them their group names namely thiazide, loop, and potassium-sparing. These side effects vary according to the side of the kidney they affect.
The most common side effect of all types of diuretics is sodium loss and increased urination.
But if you are taking a potassium-sparing type, you risk having too much potassium in your blood (hyperkalemia) which can cause muscle weakness, muscle numbness, and palpitations among others.
Also, thiazides will cause your potassium level to drop too low (hypokalemia) which can lead to tiredness, cramps, headaches, and increased heart rate.
Other side effects include difficulty in controlling blood sugar levels, restlessness, and dry mouth. More severe side effects include impotence, joint disorders also known as (gout) and even death.
So, before using any diuretic, it is important to ask your doctor for some advice. A general safety rule is that, if they are not prescribed, do not use them. There are lots of dire consequences to its misuse.
Final Thoughts
Without a doubt, tea is the most consumed drink in the world after water. And, green tea as a diuretic helps to keep your body healthy by causing it to pass out the toxic fluid.
Meanwhile, unlike the pills, there is no way of measuring how much of these elements we gulp while drinking green tea. Hence, there is a risk of overdosing.
As a precaution, endeavor to take a diuretic with or before a meal or immediately after. In other words, do not take it on an empty stomach.
Also, people with eating disorders should not attempt to use it as a means of counterbalancing their weight gain. Trying to do this will unavoidably lead to the abuse of green tea.
Drink as much as you’ll need to detoxify your body, but remember that moderation is very important. Scientifically, 3 cups of green tea a day are enough to take full advantage of its health benefits.
But again, the quantity varies depending on the type and brand of tea. So, make sure you read the label before buying the one!
